Uganda Today: A Crisis of Children Without Surgeons
Amigos Internacionales • June 26, 2025
One Surgery. One Child. A Lifetime Transformed
- 15% of Ugandan children will require surgical care before age 18. Only a fraction ever receive it.
- Rural children are hit hardest: over 80% of cases are in remote villages. Almost half of surgical needs remain unmet .
- Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is common. These children suffer feeding challenges, risk of aspiration, chronic ear infections, and speech delay.
- Malnutrition is rampant: up to 68% of infants with CL/P in Uganda are undernourished; many remain ineligible for surgery due to frail health
- Untreated consequences: ongoing pain, family isolation, lifelong stigma, lost chances, and even school dropout .
Yet the solution exists. Simple, safe surgery can restore wholeness. But time, resources, and access—especially in remote regions—are missing.
🕊️ One Mother, One Child, One Call That Changed Everything
This is the story of a young family in Pawik, a village served by Agape Baptist Church.
A new mother holds her baby, born with a cleft palate. She sees hunger in her child’s eyes. She hears whispers in the community. She fears for her baby’s future.
In desperation—and hope—she speaks with Pastor Martin at Agape Baptist Church, Pawik, Uganda, a Missionpoint church. He reaches out to Michael Ryer, CEO of Amigos Internacionales. Michael does not pause. He calls his longtime friend and partner, Dr. Paul Mulyamboga, leader of Doctors on Mission International.
Within days:
- Dr. Paul secured a trusted surgical team.
- Amigos committed to cover the 10‑hour round‑trip travel for mother and child.
- Funding for hospital stay, meals, and follow-up care was arranged.
Now, they wait for the surgery date—the moment when hope becomes healing.
❤️ What This Operation Will Do
- Enable proper feeding and nutrition—no more struggle at every meal.
- Prevent infection and protect against chronic illness.
- Allow clear speech, opening doors to learning and community.
- Restore dignity, giving this child a rightful place in school and life.
This is more than surgery. It is a rebirth. It is a child given the chance to thrive.
💔 The Harsh Reality If You Do Nothing
Consider this: thousands of children like her remain trapped. Without action:
- They fall behind in school.
- They face isolation and bullying.
- Their families carry shame and financial burden.
- Some die from malnutrition or infection before age two.
And while we stand by—others suffer in silence.
🚨 Act Now or Watch Them Fall
We need your help today. This baby’s surgeon is scheduled. All we lack is the final support.
- $75 pays the transportation.
- $150 covers lodging and hospital stay.
- $300 funds the full surgery package, including aftercare.
If we raise $300 now, this mom and baby board a bus this week headed to healing.
If you wait, the opportunity is gone. They return home burdened, blamed, broken. Do you stand by—or do you help rise their future?
🙏 Stand With Faith and Action
- Give now to turn prayer into transformation.
- Share this story so more children hear hope.
- Pray for healing hands and restored life.
💬 Thank You
- Michael Ryer, for answering the call with purpose.
- Dr. Paul Mulyamboga and Doctors on Mission International, for caring enough to act.
- Agape Baptist Church, for bringing the need into the light.
- You, our donor, volunteer, prayer partner—if you give now, you change one child’s life forever.
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Picture a child in Uganda with big dreams but no way to reach them. That’s the reality for too many orphans who can’t afford school. In places like Northern Uganda, poverty hits hard, and education often feels out of reach. As per statistics, only 51% of girls finish primary school there, and boys don’t have it much easier. Without school, their futures stay small. But here’s the good news: for just $38 a month, you can sponsor a child and change that. You give them school, uniforms, and a real shot at a better life. Want to know how it works? We’ll walk you through why this matters, share a real story, and show you how to jump in. Check out our program; Sponsor a Child , or read about Uganda’s education gaps at UNESCO Uganda Stats . >> Want to change a life? Sponsor a Child for $38 today! The Education Crisis in Uganda Life isn’t easy for kids in rural Uganda. If you’re an orphan, it’s even tougher. School isn’t free, and without money for fees or uniforms, you’re not allowed back. Boys struggle too, but girls often drop out for things like early marriage or chores. When kids can’t learn, they’re stuck in poverty forever. No school means no skills, no jobs, and no way to climb out. It’s a cycle that’s hard to break. That’s where Amigos Internacionales comes in. Our sponsorship program steps up with $38 a month to cover school costs, keeping kids in class and giving them a chance to dream bigger. Want the bigger picture? Peek at Uganda’s poverty stats at World Bank Uganda . It’s a tough spot, but you can help. >> Help a kid beat the odds. Sponsor a Child now! Aloyo Brenda’s Story of Hope Let’s talk about Aloyo Brenda, a kid from Uganda whose life got a lift from sponsorship. Growing up, Brenda couldn’t always go to school. Poverty meant she didn’t have money for fees or supplies, so her education was spotty. Then Amigos stepped in, her sponsor made sure she got books, uniforms, and a steady spot in class. Now, Brenda’s got big plans. She wants to be a lawyer someday and build her grandma a house to say thanks. She’s already learning more, feeling confident, and loving school. In her own words, “Your brave step in sponsoring kids has given me a brighter future.” That’s the power of sponsorship: it’s not just money, it’s hope. Want to read her full story? Visit our page: Sponsorship Stories . >> Sponsor a Child like Brenda. Donate Now! What Your $38 Does Every Month So, what does $38 actually do? It’s pretty straightforward. Your monthly gift covers school fees, uniforms, books, and supplies for one Ugandan orphan. Amigos works with local schools to make sure every dollar gets to the kids who need it. We’ve already got 32 young men and women fully funded for a year, and you can add to that list. Here’s a cool part: you don’t just send money and forget. Every three months, you get a video update from your child, hosted by Patrick from Amigos. You’ll see them grow, learn, and smile. Over time, that education helps them build skills to support their families and villages. It’s a ripple effect. Curious how this fits with other projects. See their water work at Clean Water . >> See your $38 in action. Sponsor at Sponsor a Child now! Amigos’ Bigger Picture Sponsorship isn’t all Amigos does. We’ve been at this since 1967, over 55 years of helping kids and communities stand tall. Besides education, we’ve built wells in Uganda and fed millions in Central America. It’s all connected. Clean water keeps kids healthy, school gives them skills, and faith ties it together with hope. Conclusion Here’s the bottom line: for $38 a month, you can sponsor a child like Aloyo Brenda and open doors to education and dreams. It’s more than just school. It’s a lifeline for Ugandan orphans, a way to break poverty’s grip, and a boost for their whole community. Amigos Internacionales is making it happen, one child at a time, and you can be part of it. Your support today could mean a lawyer, a teacher, or a leader tomorrow. Ready to step up? Get started today & Sponsor a Child . Together, we’re unlocking futures, and that feels pretty amazing. FAQs What does my $38 pay for? It covers school fees, uniforms, books, and supplies for one child each month. How do I see my child’s progress? You’ll get video updates every three months from Patrick at Amigos. Who can I sponsor? Ugandan orphans who need help to stay in school. How many kids are sponsored now? 32 young men and women are funded for a full year. Where does my money go? It goes straight to schools through Amigos’ local partners.
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